Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate was happy to see his men pass one of their first acid tests as a Championship club as they beat Scunthorpe 2-0 at Glanford Park.

A brace from Adam Johnson, one a sublime volley and the other a hotly-contested penalty, proved to be the difference in the first meeting between the two sides since 1967.

As a result of the win, Boro remain unbeaten since their return to the Championship and Southgate is happy with how they are adapting to life outside the Premier League.

"I think it was a game that a few people questioned for us," he said. "It was a very tight pitch and there wasn't a lot of space to play in. You have to earn the right to play and we did that.

"We stood up to the physical challenge and that's not to say that Scunthorpe were over-physical. They work you and they make it difficult for you. We came here with a lot of respect for them and we needed to make sure we were on our mettle.

"In the end, we have got players that, if our attitude and discipline is right, are quality players."

The major talking point of the game came shortly after the interval when referee Michael Oliver awarded a penalty against Scunthorpe's Michael O'Connor for a foul on Rhys Williams. Johnson saw his spot-kick saved by Joe Murphy but was then felled by the Irish keeper as he went after the rebound.

That prompted Oliver to award a second penalty which Johnson, despite protests from his team-mates over who would take it, coolly despatched.

"The referee has blown his whistle for the first penalty and I understand why but Leroy Lita was about to put the rebound in and then we wouldn't have had the second one," Southgate said.

"Then the second one was a penalty as well. I'm just pleased that Adam had the courage to step up and take it."

United manager Nigel Adkins had a different view of the incident to the former England defender and is hopeful that the decision does not represent a negative attitude towards his side.

The last time they were in the Championship the Iron felt hard done by after a number of penalty decisions and have already conceded five in four games this season.

"I think when we analyse the video and when we analyse the last time we were in the Championship and the penalty decisions that went against us that weren't penalties, is there a trait coming out there?" he asked.

"The turning point for the scoreline is the penalty, it's not a penalty. Michael O'Connor has tracked his runner, it's a fantastic tackle and the referee has made a mistake there. Joe Murphy makes the save and the second one is a penalty in my view because Joe has made a fantastic save but he's dived at the player's feet who has just got to the ball first.

"The second is a penalty, the first is not. But great credit to the players because we kept taking the game to Middlesbrough. Michael has made a decision on what he thinks is right for the penalty. As it is, it's a wrong one."